Bust supporter



V. S- JOHNSON W 3U, W5 0 BUST SUPPORTER 2 Shecs-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1947 v. s. JOHNSON 509,353

BUST SUPPORTER Filed Nov. 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 1 Claim.

This invention relates to bust supporters and particularly to such bust supporters in which relatively rigid wire members are employed.

In. the past there have been many attempts to improve upon the bust-moulding and supporting action of brassieres through the use of relatively rigid formed wires in various shapes and relationships in association with the fabric bust-cups, but such prior devices have been found to be objectionable by many users as well as by the merchandizing establishments through which they were sold. Thus as to both the merchandizer and the user, such prior devices have been found to be objectionable by reason of the necessity for special manufacture and fitting of the devices, with the resultant high cost, and in re spect to the user, such prior devices have been unsatisfactory because of the undesired restraining' action on the physical movements of the wearer.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to enable bust supporters embodying relatively rigid wire forming orsupporti'ngmembers to be made in a few different sizes which may be sold selectively according to size so as to take care of most customers without the necessity of special manufacture or fitting. Another object is to enable such bust supporters to servea two-fold purpose, for day-time wear and general. wear with a bra-cover and shoulder straps, and for eVehing or sports wear without a bra-cover without shoulder straps.

Another important object of the invention is to enable such wire forming or supporting members to be utilized in such a way as to avoid undue restraint on the body movements of the wearer; and objects related to he foregoing are to enable such wire bust-forming and supporting elements to be utilized without danger of chafiing of thebody, to enable such supporting devices to be-readily and easily put in place, to simplify the laundering of the fabric bust cups and straps that may be utilized in association with such wire elements, and to enable the wire bust forming or moulding elements to be effectually utilized either wither without fabric bust cups or covers, and with or without shoulder straps.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the" accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principle thereof and what I now considerto'be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that'principle. Otherembodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent 2 principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a bust supporting and moulding device embodying the" features of the invention;

Fig. 2' is a perspective view of the device" of Fig. 1 and illustrating another way in which the device may be worn;

Fig. 3 is a View showing the details of construe tion of the bust moulding and supporting rings;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged cross sectional views of. the rings;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the device in position on a wearer; and

Fig. '7 is a front view of a ring of a different form.

For purposes-of disclosure the invention is disclosed in Fig. l as embodied in a bust moulding and supporting device I'll havinga pair of bustencircling rings 1 2L and HR. connected together at their adjacent edges by means such as a re-- silient cross band I4, and having body band members ESL and iBR connected at the o flposit'e side of the rings IZL and [2B so that a conventional fastening connection [8 at the free ends of these members may be joined across the wearers back. in the usual manner to hold the device in place. The rings [2L and [2R areof' identical construction; and are of such a diam eter as to be adaptedto fit snugly about the base of a bust of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 6; wherein thering 12B is shown with a fabric cover or bust cup. 20 in association therewith in the manner illustrated in Fig; 2.

Each of the rings I2 is formed from a relatively rigid wire 22 as shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the wire 22 being'rigidly connected by a welded butt joint 23; The relatively rigid wire ring 22 con stitutes the force applying and forming element" ofthe present device; and this wire ring is sur rounded throughout its entire periphery or length by a resilient sleeve 24 formed from a material such as extruded rubber or other resilient plastic material. The sleeve 'M'is preferably of such a character as to be resistant to perspiration and seamless so as 'to have the least possible chaffi'ng qualities and whileI have found seamless rubber tubing to be satisfactory, other seamless semi-'- resilient tubing of nylon plastic or other material might'prove satisfactory. The wire 22 is ofround cross section, and the-sleeve 24 under the present invention has an internal diameter that is substant'ially greater than the" diameter of the 3 22, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Moreover, the sleeve 24 is made of such a length that the wire 22 may assume the concentric relation shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the manufacture of the rings l2, the sleeve 24 is put in position about the wire 22 and the ends of the wire 22 are thereafter welded together, the ends of the sleeve 24 being held in a separated relation during this operation so as to avoid burning of the sleeve. Preferably the sleeve 24 is then concealed by a fabric covering 26 which may be conveniently applied by Winding a fabric strip 26S about the sleeve 24 as shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the strip 26 being sewn together after completion of the winding operation. 7

The rings I2R and IZL are then secured together by the cross band I4 which may be permanently connected, or may be detachable, and the ends of the body band members ISL and [GR are connected to the respective rings [2L and I2R either permanently or detaohably as desired. The body bands I 6L and 16B and cross band I4, Whether permanently connected or detachable, are not stationary on the rings and can be moved up or down on the rings whichever is more comfortable, and will stay in position when placed on the wearer. The device In of Fig. l is thus completed, and this device as shown in Fig. 1 may be worn advantageously with or without the usual bust cups or covers 2i) and with or without the shoulder straps 46 such as are usually considered to be necessary or desirable. However, when desired such covers or bust cups 20 may be readily put in place as shown in Fig. 2. In such use a pair of detachable shoulder straps 40, having buckles r connnecting elements 4I thereon, are provided, and the ends of the straps 40 are formed together to afford a narrow intermediate portion ZBN, and a band 43 fixed at one end to this intermediate portion is extended about the cross band I4 and is connected at its other end to the intermediate portion 20N by a snap fastener 45. Similar bands 46L and 46B at the upper edges of the cups 20 are adapted to extend about the lower forward ends of the shoulder straps 46, while hooks 41 at the outer side edges of the cups 26 are adapted to extend about the lower forward ends of the shoulder straps 46, while hooks ll at the outer side edges of the cups 20 are adapted to engage eyes 48 on the adjacent ends of the body band elements ISL and I6R respectively. When the bust cups are to be used without shoulder straps, the bands 46L and 46R. may be fastened about the rings I2L and I2R. to hold the upper edges of the cups 20 in place. The cups 29 are relatively loose, and are connected only at the side and upper edges, and in the center by band 43 and it is the rings I2 that serve the moulding and supporting function. Thus the cups 2|] are unnecessary insofar as support may be concerned, and may readily be removed for laundering, or when the device it! is to be worn alone, as may be desirable for evening or sports wear.

When the device Ill, either with or without the bust cups 20 and with or without the shoulder straps 40, is put in position on the wearer, the Wire rings 22 are drawn toward the bases of the busts, as shown in Fig. 6, and in such movement, the resilient sleeves 24 and the fabric covers 26 may move and shift relative to the wire rings 22. The wire rings 22 and the sleeve 24 thereupon assume the relationship shown in Figs. and 6, and the restraining forces applied to the wire rings 22 by the body band are transmitted, to the base portions of the busts through the relatively broad resilient surfaces afforded by the resilient sleeve 24 and the fabric cover 26. The sleeve 24 and the cover 26 may, of course move or shift beneath or laterally with respect to the wire ring 22 so that while effective support is afforded for the busts at all times, there may be considerable shifting movement of the busts relative to the Wire rings 22 as required by the body movements. An important aspect of the functioning of the parts under such circumstances is the avoidance of chafllng of the body, for it will be evident that movement of the cover and sleeve relative to the body surfaces is not required.

The present supporter, by allowing free movement of the busts relative to the rings 22, enables effectual support to be attained without fully confining the busts throughout their entire surface area, and hence the support is attained in a large measure by merely assisting the muscles which normally serve to maintain the proper bust form. It can then be effectively worn as a preventative measure to help maintain the muscles in their proper form. As a result, and even where that has occured, the present device has been found to have a strengthening and remoulding action which in time serves materially to reduce the need for support.

In some instances, particularly when the bust supporter of the present invention is first worn, it may be necessary to reduce the strain on the upper muscles of the breasts, and for this purpose, rings H2 may be used as shown in Fig. 7. This ring is of the same general form as the ring I2, with the exception that a lower rigid support Wire I50 of inverted V-shaped form has its ends welded to the lower portion of the rigid wire ring I22. In this instance the resilient sleeve I24 is formed in three sections, and the wire I50 has a similar sleeve I5I thereon. These sleeves are put in place before the various welding operations and are thereafter concealed by a Wound fabric cover I26. The lower support extends forwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of the ring, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 6, and thus additional support is provided for heavy or pendulous busts.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the present invention enables rigid wire elements to be eifectually used in bust supports, and enables this to be accomplished in such a way that custom building or fitting is not required. The bust supporter of the present invention serves to maintain the muscles in their proper form, and also serves to attain a remoulding and uplifting function where the muscles have become somewhat relaxed or flattened. Moreover, the present device enables such movements to take place without chafiing or other undesirable results. It will also be evident that the ring elements may in some instances be worn under the usual form of brassiere. The supporter of the present invention may be readily washed, and may be used with separable covers that these covers may also be conveniently laundered.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claim.

I claim:

In a bust supporting device, a pair of support members for the respective busts of a wearer and each supporting member comprising an endless member made from resilient and relatively stiff wire of round cross section, bendable means connecting adjacent edges of said endless members to limit separating movement thereof while permitting relative pivotal adjustment to conform with the body of the wearer, a body band for holding said members in place, said body band being attached to the opposite edges of the respective endless members, and. cushioning sleeves made from seamless resilient material surrounding the wires of said endless members and of an internal diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said wires to cushion the engagement of the wires with the body surfaces of the wearer and facilitate movement of the wires relative to such surfaces.

VIRGINIA S. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,664,926 Imersheim et a1. Apr. 3, 1928 1,837,958 Ferrero Dec. 22, 1931 2,454,152 Glick Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date 771,567 France July 30, 1934 820,104 France July 19, 1937 

